As you know, I totally embrace and celebrate being an indie author. I love the freedom, the ability to control my book (admittedly, I am a little bit of a control freak so this works really well for me), the favorable financial advantages for indie vs. traditional authors. There is so much to love being an indie published author.
Being an indie allows creative control in designing your own cover (whether you do it yourself or hire someone), setting your own release date, engineering your own promotions, and setting your own deadlines – there is freedom being an indie author. Yes, it is not all easy- being an indie takes hard work and self-discipline, there is no doubt about that.
WG2E-Land: Would you mind sharing with us the benefit(s) you have found being an indie author – both the obvious perks and the less obvious ones?
The Best of Indie Epublishing Wishes — Lois Lavrisa
Absolutely right about the freedom. I say what, how, when, and I’ve got complete creative control. How amazing is that?
Sibel- Freedom is what it is cracked up to be- I love it too:)
I think the greatest benefit to being an indie is that it removes the barrier between author and reader. It’s nice to be able to interact with your readers personally. I am also a reader as well as a writer. Until the advent of the indie publishing phenomenon, the agents and traditional publishers were a barrier between writers and readers.
Janice- you said it so well “the greatest benefit to being an indie is that it removes the barrier between author and reader” it is great being an indie:)
Freedom to write the story you want.
Freedom to write short, long, novella … whatever form you like.
Freedom to publish fast or slow, to decide what order to release stories in.
Freedom to try new things.
This!
Yahoo to freedom!!
Being an indie author, nothing is holding you back but yourself! And that’s the biggest benefit for me!
Oh my goodness Tamara- so true “Being an indie author, nothing is holding you back but yourself!” We can either be our own biggest supporter or our worst enemy…- thanks!
You control your own destiny. You align your own stars. You reach for the moon and beyond and build incredible bonds with your readers.
These are just a few of the reasons our Indie Epublishing World rocks.
And then of course there are wonderful opportunities to partner with fellow authors! For example, I’m over the moon to be partnering with the fabulous Theresa Ragan for a Christmas Book this year. I’ve partnered with sooo many of you in our terrific WG2E Anthologies, and check out our WG2E Street Team’s first Short Story Collection which is featured today on our sister site The RG2E:
http://bit.ly/QrF13U
In Indie Epublishing, what you achieve is up to you and your muses. You create your own journey. Yes, you work your ass off, but it’s your ass, under your control, and that is an A-mazing Freedom that is ultimately a very powerful motivational tool.
Nothin’ beats Writers Helping Writers Reach Readers…and that’s what it’s all about in the wonderful world of Indie Epublishing that we celebrate and pay forward here in WG2E-Land.
Wonderfully put DD!!
Yes to controlling our own destiny – right! Thanks DD and Jamie:)
I can now write the stories I want to write.
Readers are the new gatekeepers.
I can actually earn money doing what I love.
Hmm, what a concept huh? As an indie being able to write what we want to write and earn money too. This is the best time to be an author:) Thanks Theresa:)
I love everything there is about being indie! Yes it’s a lot of long hard work, but I thrive on that. Sometime soon, it’ll all pay off. Right now, I’m meeting some awesome fellow writers and connecting with some amazing readers. I have to keep telling myself that the $$ will come in due time. Where else but being an indie can you write whatever you want, whenever, design your own cover (and work with some amazing cover artists to boot). All this and so much MORE doing something I love!! Can’t beat that!
Jamie- yes it is so true that being an indie is hard work, but so is being a traditional author right? But you are so right that we can writer whatever we want, do our own covers etc… true creative control- yahoo. Thanks for your comments:)
All of the above. Plus, you don’t have to wait for publishers deadlines. Complete control of what you want to do with what you want. I just love it. For someone who doesn’t take well to pressure, it is ideal for me.
Julie- yes the only deadlines are self imposed. Love this- thanks:)
A writing friend of mine sends me her manuscripts. I’ve read four books so far and she is simply brilliant. She has a fresh voice and a sincere love for her characters and their tribulations. I believe in her ability so much that I suggested she try self-publishing. Her response was terse. She was going traditional all the way. I did not push the issue.
She wrote a great YA book giving life to an old slumber party game that was simply marvelous. The publishers were interested but only if she rewrote the book to be more screen-ready. So she wrote what they wanted and in a few short weeks the result was a totally different book, written as though she’d been a writer-for-hire on an idea the publisher had presented.
The book was picked up (YAY!) by the traditional publisher and we could expect her first book to be released… wait for it… Fall of 2014.
She mentioned that her blog will now be sponsored by the publisher (who also owns a family-oriented movie studio) so she will have to change her blogging style to be more family-oriented (no more F-bombs or horror picks). I would love to know (but am afraid to ask) if there’s a ‘no compete’ clause in that contract. Those three previous novels she’s written and the other books she has inside of her will probably not see the light of day for years. Hopefully, her agent knew what s/he was doing and demanded to contract allow her the freedom to pursue her writing full-time instead of dangling on the line for years at a time.
I also believe in her skill. She will, hopefully, come out on top in this deal. She wanted to go traditional and I wish her the best.
Oh, my, by Fall of 2014, she could write a dozen more books without restrictions/rules etc. The time delay of going the traditional route is upsetting. I wish her luck, but that wouldn’t have been my preferential road to travel.
I have a Big 6 traditionally newly-published friend who is regretting it. She published a year ago and has not made much money despite her fancy agent and big name publisher (PLUS she’s responsible for all her own marketing!). I published my book in July and have already surpassed her in sales in three short months, plus I’m not stressed out the way she is. My deadlines are my own. My books are my own. She does nothing but jump through hoop after hoop, and it’s sad to see. There’s no price that can be put on independence and being able to steer your own ship. That goes for indie publishing AND life!
This kind of comment serves to give the rest of us hope, and validation that we’re heading in the right direction. There’s nothing worse than feeling handcuffed, creatively and financially, and then to have a traditional publisher somehow claim that they’re doing us such a great service by deigning to take us on? Steering our own ship might be an intimidating prospect, but do we really want to trust someone else at the helm, especially if that someone doesn’t have our best interests at heart?
Violet- your friend’s book will not be released until 2014- and it is still 2012. That is a whole lot of time to wait (I am a little impatient- so that would drive me nuts) …I do hope that your friend has huge success – thanks for sharing:)
Elizabeth, Riley, and Lois: I agree with everything you guys said. Breaks my heart that she will have to wait TWO YEARS before her book gets released and then she will have only a two to three month window in which to generate enough sales to warrant someone picking up her next book. Augh!! Meanwhile, that modest advance is being spread out over the two years and there’s a chance her contract won’t allow her to make any more money with her writing unless the publisher allows. Even her blog posts will be monitored and publisher approved! It’s sort of like watching her marry a guy with a bad reputation. Telling her he’s a d-bag will not enhance our friendship and certainly won’t change her mind. I’d come off sounding like a bitter spinster
I’m glad she’s happy but, man, there’s a good chance he will do her wrong. Of course, she might become a BIG TIME AUTHOR and that would be wonderful because she has earned it.
Nice post! I can relate – I too can be a bit of a control freak, so indie publishing works very well for me!
Sharon- yes it seems that indie publishing fits well with us control freaks- thanks for your comments:)
Pluses as a writer: the freedom to write cross genre stories without having to worry if they’ll fit into one or another publisher’s line. Knowing that I can take the time to build an audience without having the books pulled from the shelf after a year to make room for the next year’s 10 books in whatever category.
Pluses as a reader (and this is both indie publishers and eBooks in general): not having to depend on a trade publisher to keep the books I love in print so that they are there for me to share with my friends and family, and my granddaughter as she learns to read.
SK– yes being an indie lets us jump around genre if we chose, when we chose, We are not locked into a certain line or contract or… Thanks!
The benefits of indie publishing:
1. Don’t need no stinkin’ agents.
2. Don’t need no stinking’ publishing company.
In the past 30 years I’ve had about 6-7 agents (it’s mostly a blur in my mind). They were so good, I can’t even remember their names.
Any questions??
Joe- too funny!!! yup- you are right- you are your own agent (so to speak) and publisher- and probably the best you’ve ever had right? thanks!
I self-published A Sixties Story at the end of 2010 because I didn’t want to spend years trying to find a publisher, especially since I had read I would be doing my own marketing anyway. I am very satisfied with the self-publishing services I bought from dog ear publishing, including among other things, the asixtiesstory.com website and their continuing order fulfillment.
I can’t say that I’ve had the huge success that others have had, but I didn’t expect that. What I wanted was that my book be out there so it could be read. I continue to market it as I get new ideas and see steady gains in sales. I like it that I was able to publish it the way I wrote it and that I make more money on each book than I would with a ‘real’ publisher.
I’m really looking forward self-publishing more of my work. I love being part of the indie community of writers. It’s a whole new world for creative people, and it’s a good world.
Toni- this is how I feel as well “I love being part of the indie community of writers. It’s a whole new world for creative people, and it’s a good world.” Thanks:)
I like the freedom to write in different genres, in different lengths. I’m not locked into a box. My creative side is more involved now. I love it. I feel free…
Pepper- yes indie’s are not locked into a box- great point. thanks:)
I love the freedom to write 3 contemporary romances and then put out a paranormal romantic suspense. Now working on another contemporary and a zombie urban fantasy. Freedom!!
Jill- yes can you feel the freedom? It is like skinny dipping for the first time- true freedom:)
I love the freedom also. The only thing about self pub is the promotion. Its rough to DIY or expensive to hire someone to do it for you. On my next book I think I will fork out the cash.
Steven- yes as an Indie author you have to do your own promotion. But as we’ve heard traditional publishers also expect their authors to do their won promotion as well.
I am at the front door of this journey – just now hired my cover designer and am working on final edits for my launch. I am so thankful that I found this site and have the opportunity to get real-time tips and conversations on the topics that are critically important to me. I’m sure I sound like a broken record with my posts, but I am sincerely thankful. I’d say that’s the biggest plus for me right now.
Michelle- welcome to Indie publishing- we are so glad that you are here:)
As a traditionally published author, I’ve grown fed up with waiting, with hearing “we love this book” but … I am so very ready to earn a living doing what I want to do, but have to admit I’m both excited and petrified about going indie. My computer skills are limited, social media scares the bejeebers out of me and I’m afraid that once I press a certain button, there’s no going back. Anyone else been through these cold sweats? Are there any “shalt nots?” I suppose getting a website up is the first order of the day, then after that it’s the formatting of the ms., etc. Still finishing off a current book, but hope to join you soon!
CV- First congratulations on being published Also I am so proud of you wanting to try t0 take the indie pub step- there are so many ready and willing people to help you on your journey. For example- this blog for one, and DD recommends “52 novels” for formatting, there are a lot of great e book cover designers as well…..
Thanks for the speedy reply, Lois! What I can’t help but notice about the indie world and the hard-working authors who inhabit it, is the writers’ complete willingness to share what they know and to lend a hand. It’s both generous and humbling. For so many in the traditional realm, it was like a contest–who had more books out, more awards, bigger advances. Maybe a good blog topic would involve a discussion about how much is reasonable to spend on things like cover design, formatting, web design, etc. Too, how the indie author can gently pursue getting those much needed reviews … Anyway, glad I found this spot. Thanks for making me feel welcome, and best of luck to all!